Open file dialog defaults to showing hidden files

Question

My open file dialog is defaulting to showing hidden files, I have to press Ctrl-H to get to the files I want, but this is not saved across instances of the dialog.

I can't find a settings panel to change this behaviour, including Nautilus preferences, nor a key in the configuration editor. Is there a way to have the open file dialog default to not show hidden files?

score 25 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 04 '22 at 20:29

25

GTK 2

Edit the file

~/.config/gtk-2.0/gtkfilechooser.ini

There is a line

ShowHidden=true

change to

ShowHidden=false

Save and close.

GTK 3

Run the following command:

gsettings set org.gtk.Settings.FileChooser show-hidden false

edited Mar 04 '22 at 20:29

Alexander Pozdneev

113

answered Aug 28 '12 at 20:36

Jakob

543

Thanks I had the same problem and this fixed it for me because changing settings in Nautilus file browser doesn't affect File Open/Save dialog window – Michal Apr 06 '16 at 12:45
This did not work for me in Mozilla Firefox. This is what helps: right-click in the folder view of a dialog box and uncheck "Show Hidden Files". – Alexander Pozdneev Sep 19 '18 at 09:22
4

For GTK 3, run this: gsettings set org.gtk.Settings.FileChooser show-hidden false – Alexander Pozdneev Jul 10 '20 at 14:03
@AlexanderPozdneev you should post that as an answer so I can upvote. That was the only solution that worked for me! – Lord Elrond May 14 '21 at 17:09
@LordElrond, thanks for the hint. I edited the answer. Once it is approved, that will be OK to delete my comment. – Alexander Pozdneev May 16 '21 at 12:15

score 14 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 03 '12 at 02:08

14

You may have checked showing hidden files in preferences. In Nautilus (file browser) click Edit>Preferences and in Views tab if Show hidden files and backup files is ticked, remove the tick.

Hidden Files Setting

answered Mar 03 '12 at 02:08

Şâkir Aşçı

329

3

That was the first place I looked. Show hidden files and backup files is and has been unchecked. – Erik Youngren Mar 03 '12 at 04:32
+1 to Erich Youngren's comment. This answer pertains to Nautilus file manager, not the file selector dialogue. – elzilrac Sep 30 '14 at 20:58

score 5 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 30 '13 at 16:32

5

To fix this in 13.04, I had to right click on the dialog and uncheck "Show Hidden Files"

answered Sep 30 '13 at 16:32

Cory Klein

471

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 11 '15 at 22:09

0

In Ubuntu 14.10 you have to click on the gear button on the right of the toolbar and the click on Preferences -> View and remove the tick on Show hidden and backup files.

answered Mar 11 '15 at 22:09

Federico Viotti

1

Open file dialog defaults to showing hidden files

4 Answers4

GTK 2

GTK 3

Linked